Caron N’Aimez Que Moi Review and/or How to Break a New Year’s Resolution in Under a Week and 3rd Year Anniversary Draw

Well, it was bound to happen; the fact that I was going to break one of my resolutions for the new year. What I didn’t know that it was going to happen so quickly. On my January 5, post “Goodbye 2014, Hello 2015” I posted the following resolution: Only buy it if I ABSOLUTELY love it. Probably like many of you, I am known to peruse the online offerings of eBay looking at the various fragrant goodies that are listed…and hoping for that incredible deal. Well, a post caught my eye advertising a travel spray of Caron’s Aimez-Moi for $49. If you have ever seen these little jewels of a travel spray, they are 20ml in size and are designed to hold the Caron urned parfum extraits. Typically what these coffrets sell for is a bit over $200 which is a pretty good deal for 20ml of Caron extrait. However, I questioned this posting, but immediately thought that the seller (who said it was from an estate sale) didn’t realize that what he was selling was not Aimez-Moi, but instead was N’Aimez Que Moi (by name alone this could be an easy mistake). Aimez Moi is an oriental floral and is primarily found as an Eau de Toilette and it doesn’t come in parfum concentration which means is doesn’t come from an urn. But N’Aimez Que Moi, a rose based chypre floral does. So I took a chance and purchased the bottle for $49 and upon first sniff, I knew I had made the right deduction!

The lovely little jewel of a Caron travel spray!

WHAT I SMELL: N’Aimez Que Moi (“love no one but me”) opens with this big enveloping and sharp metallic rose. Like Caron’s Or et Noir, the metallic edge is biting and you wonder how this could ever turn into anything pleasant. But after a few minutes the metallic edge is met with a puff of powdered dust, which helps to soften that harsh opening. The rose, tinged with violet and lilac is voluminous and rather stiff and proper. True to when it was created, it feels like a perfume from 1916. Lying underneath the rose is a woody vetiver that is met with a light amber. Even though the perfume is big, there’s something rather tender and heartfelt about it. After 20 minutes or so, a creamy sandalwood comes in, bringing passion into the perfume, but a passion without lustfulness. And further on, the oakmoss pulls some of the creaminess out of the perfume and renders a satined finish to the composition. Most Caron parfum extraits require patience for them to achieve their “state of grace.” N’Aimez Que Moi is no exception and when it does settle down after around the hour mark, this creamy, powdery and radiant rose becomes a restrained heaven on earth.

BOTTOM LINE: The Caron signature Mousse de Saxe is prominent in N’Aimez Que Moi which is a good thing. As most of you know by now, I love my Caron and this is close to love but is more of a like. But to find this gem for such a steal doesn’t make me feel one ounce of guilt in breaking my perfume New Year’s resolution. Maybe this great buy is just a sign of the fantastic things that are going to occur over the new year!

It’s hard to believe that I have been at this blogging/review adventure for 3 years now. What started as a fun way to make sense of a fascination of fragrance has turned out to be an amazing experience. I’ve met some fantastic people, explored some incredible perfumes and opened up doors that I didn’t know existed. It’s’ been fun. And since this is an anniversary post and since we have to have presents at an anniversary party, I am giving away a 50ml bottle of Lady Caron Eau de Parfum. In other words, it’s an all Caron post! Unfortunately, because of shipping issues, I can’t include anyone who doesn’t have a US address. To enter, all you have to do is post a comment on what your favorite Caron perfume is or what your favorite rose perfume is and why. How simple is that? The draw will close on Thursday, January 15 at 6pm EST and the winner will be picked via random.org and will be posted on Friday, January 16th so keep your eyes peeled for the announcement. Good luck to all!

69 thoughts on “Caron N’Aimez Que Moi Review and/or How to Break a New Year’s Resolution in Under a Week and 3rd Year Anniversary Draw”

Congratulations on your third anniversary, Houndie! I was about to despair of us having a common love and you went out and got my favorite Caron N’Aiemez Que Moi. My green travel spray was from the New York boutique.

As to my favorite rose perfume, Tauer PHI Une Rose de Kandahar ranks right up there.

so many congratulations on your third anniversary. time really flies by. I am not sure if it may count as a rose fragrance but I consider Ungaro I to be masculine rose and, thus, my favorite rose though Tauer’s Une Rose de Kandahar is also among favorites. Here is to another three and even more years 🙂

Has it really been 3 years? Wow! Congratulations and Happy Anniversary!
A favorite Caron? Hmmm….I like a few but don’t know them well enough to have a true favorite. I like Nuit de Noel, Nocturne, and Bellogdia.
Well, that resolution went right out the window pretty quickly. Lol. If you’re resolving to not buy then the last place you should be browsing around is eBay. I’m not buying anything for a while. So far, so good. I’m glad your purchase was at least a successful one.

My dear Poodle. I am weak and have little will power. That goes along with food, drink, perfume…name it. But I’m having fun so I guess that counts for something! You are entered in the draw. Best of luck!

Because of the lovely old Russian song about Nuit de Noel, I truly wish it were my favorite Caron(look up the Marc Almond version on You Tube), but my favorite is actually Parfum Sacre. I love its resinous, incense-like quality, and when I wear it, I feel cocooned in a protective layer of warmth and beauty.

Congratulations on your three years, and thank you for your lovely observations on a subject very dear to our hearts. Also, congrats (and a bit of envy) on your beautiful new jewel!

Thanks for the sweet words. I love Parfum Sacre too, it’s been so long since I’ve worn it. I need to dig out my sample! Good luck with the draw, I’m going to go check out the Marc Almond version now (I haven’t heard that name is such a long time!)

Well done you, it sounds like exactly the thing I would have done 🙂 I love finding hidden gems like that, and have found some amazing things over the years. Add to that that you love Caron, what could possibly have gone wrong.
Congrats on breaking your resolutions and of course on your three year anniversary.
Whereas i don’t know n’aimez que moi, I do love aimez moi. A favourite? Of the ones I own, sacre and Aimez moi, my samples of poivre and bellodgia would very much like to grow into bottles one day 😉

OMG, I am not sure there would be space for me anymore if that were the case… (I’m getting visions of Goethe’s Sorcerer’s apprentice also Mickey Mouse in Fantasia) I find samples every where, and on the other hand so often I need a sample for cross reference, so unless I’m well and truly done with it, I do prefer to keep them.

Well done on 3 years! Time flies when you’re having fun with perfumes!! Currently, my favorite Caron is Miss Rocaille.
Picking a favorite rose perfume is like choosing a favorite amongst my children. I am currently flaunting Desert Rose by Dame Perfumery which is about to enter my “can’t live without” cache.
Looking forward to many, many more perfume tales and travels from you.

Lilly – you are correct. For non-perfumistas when you ask about a rose perfume they like they would believe that there is only one… and it smells like your grandmother. We perfumista know better, and it’s really hard to settle on just one, or two…or three! 🙂 Good luck.

Whoo hoo! Congrats on your anniversary!!!!
Hehee, please do not add me to the draw. I’m trying to stick to my resolution! 😉 Although my resolution technically states new-ish perfumes…..
but no no no, I have to stand firm!

Thanks so much for the nice words Carol. Actually, I think that we make resolutions that we know we are going to break….cause it seems we always do. But stand firm my dear…and I’ll check back with you in 6 months!

DNEM Mr Stevie hound,
CONGRATULATIONS!! 3 YEARS!
Amazing work.
My favourite Caron is a toss up between Bellodgia (which I own a small river of) and Accord 119 (which serendipitously adds up to my lucky number 11) and smells to die for.
Portia xx

Congratulations on 3 years! Time flies when you’re having fun, eh?
My fav Caron is Sacre. On my hubs I love Yatagan.
My favorite Rose is Wardasina. THE most fierce perfume ever on me!! It lasts thru showers!
Thanks for a chance.

My favorite Caron would have to be Nocturnes and as for rose fragrances, I always turn to YSL Paris. It’s one of those scents that may not be “groundbreaking” anymore but it sure makes me feel pretty. And many congratulations on your 3 years!!

HAPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hurrah on 3 years, Mr. Hound!! That’s a wonderful accomplishment, and you’ve added to the fragrant world every minute of that time!

No need to enter me in the draw, because I really just wanted to offer my congratulations and a hug. You were so kind to me when I started out, right from the very beginning, took me under your wing and, much more important to me, offered me your friendship. I will never forget it. You are the ultimate sweetheart and gentleman (in every sense of that word), and I truly do adore you.

Regarding your New Year’s resolution, I am a complete sucker for a really good bargain, so I would have the same thing as you if I were a Caron person. Few of my blind buys have ever gone well, which is why I try to avoid them so strenuously, but a truly big steal and bargain? It overcomes all my resistance. LOL. It sounds like you struck gold, even if the perfume is closer to a strong Like than a true Love. Still, I bet it was fun to take that first sniff and realize that you’d actually gotten a Caron urn fragrance for $49!

As for my favorite rose fragrance, I don’t have one. I avoid the genre unless the scent is more of a chypre with minimal roses. But I do like parts of one Caron fragrance: Poivre. 🙂

Thank you my dear K! It has been fun. Although I’ll never achieve the fame nor adoration as you have taken the perfume world at storm though. But I have no doubt that you work 50 times harder than I do at this blogging thing. Me, I’m a couch potato at heart. You on the other hand are wayyyy to Type A to potato for to long! It’s fun to see what you come up with next. I always learn something new from your posts and that is incredible. Thanks for all of your support and love. xoxoxoxox Steve

What a great ebay find! I’m split between Caron’s classic Muguet and the simply named Rose! My favorite rose. Hmmm. There are so many, Tauer Rose De Kandahar, Fragrance Republic’s #2, but the one I seem to reach for most is JHAG’s Lady Vengeance, a true rose with thorns!

Congratulations on hitting the 3 year mark, that’s quite the accomplishment! I hope you’re breaking out the champagne. 🙂 And, congratulations on your ebay find – I hope that your like will grow to love in some time. I’ve sadly never tried a Caron, and I’m on the fence about rose these days. I used to think I *loved* rose more than anything, but then I had pretty bad experiences with PHI and San Francisco Rose and began to wonder what was happening to me. I do really love the drydown of La Fille de Berlin, and pretty recently I got a small sample of Desert Rose, by Dame Perfumery, and that one was pretty lovely too.

Thanks Sun Mi. Just wait, you’ll get there soon enough and it will go flying by! You are the first person here not to like Kandahar… LOL. It was bound to happen. Desert Rose is very nice and I am hoping that Jeff Dame and Dame Perfumery go far. He is the nicest guy in the business. Good luck with the draw!

U – Trust me, some days it’s very hard to feel creative and the words seem to repeat themselves over time. I’m not sure, but blogging is the one thing that I would really feel guilty about if I let it go; worse then giving up on going to the gym, etc. Strange, but god knows I’ll probably be here in another 3 years??! Caron’s seem not to work for many and I’m not surprised that they don’t work for you as well. In looking at your stats, I never figured you for a SL girl. A Guerlain girl yes, but not SL. Thanks for sticking by me. xoxoxoxo

Congratulations on the anniversary! I have much admiration for someone who can commit to doing anything for 3 years straight, and I am very grateful for your work as well. As for a favorite rose? I liked Phi but I don’t think it is my favorite (unlike a majority of the commenters here!). Most days I think I would say my favorite is Rose Poivree 🙂

Greetings Nemo – Yes, it is hard to believe that I have stuck with this for 3 years…and no pay to boot! LOL. It’s a love and therefore it makes it all the easier. Another Phi lover I see; but I can’t speak to Rose Poivree because I have never smelled it myself. Good luck!

Happy Anniversary! Congrats on the eBay find. You never know when you will discover a treasure 🙂 I love my Parfum Sacre in the cold we are having right now in the Northeast. It’s like warm incense rose hug.

Congratulations on your THIRD and on your ebay coup too! I have had so much fun reading The Scented Hound but until today I have not commented (maybe once or twice?). Regarding favorites: I am very old fashioned. My all time favorite rose is Coty’s La Rose Jacqueminot and my favorite Caron is still Fleurs de Rocaille (the old Fleurs- not the new Fleur).
Azar xx

Congratulations on your THIRD and on your ebay coup too! I have had so much fun reading The Scented Hound but have not commented (maybe once or twice?). Re favorites: I am very old fashioned. My all time favorite rose is Coty’s La Rose Jacqueminot and my favorite Caron is still Fleurs de Rocaille (the vintage Fleurs not the new Fleur). Thank you for this lovely draw! Azar

Congratulations is in order on your anniversary! Yes, I am a fan of Caron, but have only ever had a bottle of Parfum Sacre (given to me by someone for whom it did not work). It was a heady, full-bodied fragrance that was too sophisticated for me at the time. I kept it for years and passed it on to someone who could pull it off better than I. I’ve always had a couple of rose fragrances in my collection. L’or d’Torrence (baby roses and coffee) and Stella McCartney’s Stella, which I “dirtied” up with a few squirts of Kiehl’s musk. Love rose but it must have an edge to it to work on me. Glad I found your blog. Let’s make 2015 a year to remember!

Jeannemarie – That’s quite the friend that gives a nice perfume like Parfum Sacre for a present! I have perfumes that were like that for me…only to find years later that it now works for me. Sometimes I think that I’m horribly fickle. Best of luck on the draw!

Congratulations on your blogging anniversary and do not reproach yourself for breaking your New Year resolution! Firstly because you got a complete and utter bargain and secondly because according to the third resolution of the ones I am following we are meant to go easy on ourselves. 😉

I have been very slow to appreciate Carons by and large, though it was one of the very first brands I tested when I wandered into a store in Paris at the beginning of my hobby in 2008. I am not sure that I have ever tried an extrait, but can certainly agree with your statement about Caron scents requiring ‘patience for them to achieve their “state of grace” ‘. That really made me smile.

My dear – sorry for the slow response. I’m not quite sure how your lovely note got lost in the shuffle. i wonder who ever came up with the concept of the New Year’s resolution? The older I get the more pointless it seems to be! As for the Caron’s, I have been lucky to find a small collection of the extraits for a relatively good price. They are an either you love them, or don’t brand for sure. For me, it works completely! xoxoxoxo Happy New Year!

J also jut wrote about Caron perfumes, but I dedicated my post to the history facts and the creation of Millesime 2014 version.
I do not prefer personally the perfumes of the above, on me, they are simply too feminine. I like En Avion quite a lot and Tabac Blond, after all, such an emblematic lesbian scent I need to have 😀 😀

Jurag, I read your post. Wonderful! As for the feminine scents, I love em, I’m not going to deny that! LOL. Tabac Blond is the perfect unisex scent for sure. I just wish my hubby liked it. He loathes it and whenever I wear it he wants to run out of the room!